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Community leaders, City officials, and everyday Torontonians gathered in the Thornton-Smith Building’s Aperture Room on January 29 to learn the results of the Sankofa Square community research study. UrbanToronto was in attendance for the event marking the next steps in the ongoing transformation of the public space formerly known as Yonge-Dundas Square, offering insights into its future vision. Among the speakers were Toronto City Councillors Chris Moise and Dianne Saxe, along with Sankofa Square Board Chair Gideon Arthurs and Ashley McKenzie-Barnes, Creative Director at D.PE Agency<\/a>, which is leading the rebranding plan. The name Sankofa, derived from the Akan language of Ghana, reflects the principle of learning from the past to build a stronger future.<\/p>\n The research study, which engaged over 3,000 participants, reinforced the square\u2019s importance as a cultural hub, with 80% of respondents having attended events there. The findings showed strong support for its transformation, though some expressed the need for more public education about the renaming. Safety, accessibility, and inclusive programming emerged as top priorities, with concerts and culinary events ranking among the most popular. Speaking to the broader vision for the space, Councillor Chris Moise emphasized, \u201cOur goal is not just to rebrand, but to embed the principle of Sankofa in the foundation of this square. This new name reminds us to look back and learn from our past in order to move forward.\u201d With a brand logo and signage to be unveiled in the upcoming months, the Board will be launching a strategic plan incorporating further community input.<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n UrbanToronto has a research service, UTPro<\/a>, that provides comprehensive data on development projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe \u2014 from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports<\/a>, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider<\/a>, that tracks projects from initial application.\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n<\/div>\n